Among a number of recommendations made Friday from an NCAA rules committee was shortening the shot clock to 30 seconds to hasten college basketball's much-maligned pace of play.
According to ESPN, other recommendations related to the pace of play included lessening coaches' second-half timeouts and an expanded restricted-area arc. College basketball watchers were critical of many games' slow pace, frequent stops for fouls or timeouts and a lack of scoring.
The NCAA previously tinkered with what calls its referees' emphasize during games to lessen physical defense and improve offense. Improving the pace of the games is a likely follow-up move.
"The committee has taken significant steps to reverse the trends in the sport that are concerning to the men's college basketball world," Rick Byrd, chair of the NCAA Men's Basketball Rules Committee, said in a statement. "We have spent the past year collecting data, opinions and considering proposals that will help our game. Our anticipation is that dedicated officiating enforcement, along with this package of changes, will help balance the offense and defense in our game."
The NCAA last reduced the shot clock for the 1993-1994 season when they dropped it from 45 seconds to 35 seconds. If approved, the college basketball shot clock would be just six seconds longer than the NBA's.
But the NCAA committee wants to go beyond making games more interesting for viewers. Other recommendations were proposed to cut down on fouling and overly physical play.
"Although the reduction in the shot clock to help increase scoring seemed to be the most discussed topic, the increase in the physicality of play has been a major concern for coaches," Ron Hunter, president of the National Association of Basketball Coaches, said in the statement. "The NCAA rules committee has addressed that this week with an emphasis on perimeter defense and post play."
